Page 24 of Locked Souls

“Isabella has a large harem of criminals and nasty people in her bed. She could already know where we are. The package that was left at your gate proves she has eyes and ears everywhere.”

“I totally forgot about that. What was on it?”

“Nothing pleasant,” Jacob grumbles, then takes a seat next to me with a yawn. “We grabbed food on the way, but you passed out. It’s on the front seat.”

“Honestly, I think I need to sleep more,” I say, then hand the boys to Jacob and stand up. Tempest points to a set of French doors at the end of the hall, and I head that way. I don’t do more than kick off my shoes before face planting into the mattress.

Chapter 7

“So, today is the day,” Tempest sings, walking into the hospital room with a huge gift bag. She hands it to me and takes Charity in exchange. “God, she’s just so perfect. Those eyes and curls. I melt,” she says dramatically and I laugh.

Pulling the tissue paper from the bag, my eyes widen. “Temp, what the hell?” I ask, while taking out the prettiest diaper bag I have ever seen. I mean, I think it’s a diaper bag. It’s a backpack, and it has my favorite Disney movie characters all over it.

“The moment I saw it on the clock app, I knew you needed it. I’m just glad it came before we had to move to the safe house,” she mumbles, before nipping on my baby’s fingertips.

I watch my best friend continue to fall in love with my baby girl. I hope one day she's able to move on from the men that haunt her and settle down.

She's an incredible mom to Romeo and my kids. I know she wants more eventually.

“Thank you. Bast is going to be so jealous. You will have to show him where you got it,” I say with a laugh.

Taking Charity over to the chair, she sits and gives me her stern look. Ugh, I was hoping she would wait until we got to the house before hitting me with the hard questions.

Doesn't she know I almost died having my little miracle?

“Temp, please, don't,” I whisper, begging her with my eyes.

Sighing, she leans back and cuddles Charity to her chest.

“He's going to be there at the house with all of us. It's time we made a plan about what you want to happen and what you don't want, Chas. You know I'm your ride or die, but he's Eli's father.”

Leaning back against the pillow, I groan and rub my eyes. I never thought I'd see Ash again, and to know that he's been around since Snake took me, and Levi didn't tell me, was a huge shock.

I know he probably didn’t want to upset me, but still, being blindsided didn’t help.

“He may be Eli’s biological father, but he’s not his dad. Bast, Jonas, and Levi are his dads. Now, if he wants to have a relationship with him, that’s fine, but it’s going to take some time for Eli to be comfortable with him.”

“I know, babes. I know, but from what I’ve heard, it wasn’t Ash’s fault. The Society ordered him into the job… Maybe just have a real talk with him when we get to the house.”

I nod, then sigh. My eyes burn, and I don’t want to cry anymore. “When is Grandmother supposed to arrive?” I change the subject, and slowly get out of the bed.

I am still extremely sore, and I need to hold a pillow against my stomach in order to bend. I hope the guys know that I’m going to need some help. This wasn’t an easy birth like Eli’s.

“She said that Jacob was going to pick her up and bring her to the house later today. I still can’t believe how much she’s changed over the years.”

“Babies have a way of thawing even the most frozen of hearts.”

“Wow, um, Chas, that was super cheesy, even for you.” Tempest laughs and Charity begins to fuss.

“Let me feed her before we go,” I say, holding my hands out for my little girl. She has the bluest eyes, and yeah, just like Temp said, I can’t help melting too. Tempest reluctantly gives her to me after smothering her cheeks in kisses.

“I wish I could help you with that, but my milk dried up over six months ago,” she says with a sigh and I laugh.

“We are close, but I don’t think I could handle you being a wet nurse.”

She’s quiet for a minute, and she has a far off look in her eyes. “Maybe I just need to find a man and get married, and have like six more babies,” she mutters, and my eyes widen.

“Six? I told Jonas and Bast I will have one more, maybe two. But six?”

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